Disney Vacation Tips

We’re going to start right from the beginning by clearing the air.

Yes, this is the TTC you will see mentioned a lot.

Yes, it is Transportation and Ticket Center, and not Ticket and Transportation Center.

Yes, I think it would make more sense the other way, but since it’s mostly about transportation, that’s the way it is.

OK, now that we’ve gotten that over with, we can actually talk about this important spot in the World. Like the name suggests, this is a central hub where you can purchase tickets and find ways to get around the World. It is often overlooked as just another stop on the way to the magic, but I personally think it can be a useful and enjoyable place on any Disney day.

So, what can you find at the TTC, and how can it be a part of your day?

Let’s explore…

First, know if you drive to the Magic Kingdom, you are actually driving to the TTC. You cannot drive up to the Magic Kingdom. Not even in a cab. Not even with a handicap placard. Not even to drop someone off. Fun story time. The very first time we went to the Magic Kingdom, we followed all the signs along the road, getting all excited, pulled through that glorious Magic Kingdom parking booth, and were filtered into the huge splay of Hero and Villain parking lots. We are not tram people, so we walked out of the lots, through the tunnel, and up to the TTC. All googly-eyed and filled with pixie dust, we started looking around for the entrance to the Magic Kingdom. Not seeing it, we rushed up to the first security guard and asked where we scanned our tickets. He promptly laughed and said we were still half a mile away from the park.

Fail.

Now we realize part of the magic of the Magic Kingdom is how isolated it is. You can only access it through Disney transportation. To go directly there, you must use a bus, boat, or monorail from your resort. Your other option is to head to the TTC and hop aboard the monorail or the ferry.

In conclusion, if you are going to Magic Kingdom in your own car, you’re going to the TTC. If you are trying to get to the TTC to go somewhere else, it’s still going to look like you’re going to Magic Kingdom. Don’t worry. You can still get to the other parks from there.

When you first approach the TTC, it can be an almost overwhelming experience. It’s big and sprawling, but when you break it down to its elements, you can see just how beneficial it really is. The first thing you’ll notice is the ticket windows. This is the second T of TTC. Here you can buy tickets to the parks, upgrade tickets, buy annual passes, and buy tickets to special events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party. These windows can be busy, but they tend to move quickly.

To the right, you’ll find Guest Services to help you with questions, complaints, and other issues. Hopefully, you will never have to visit there. Instead, visit the souvenir shop that shares the building. Here you’ll find those little things you might have forgotten to bring along with you to the parks. Don’t have sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, or headache reliever? You can get it there. Didn’t believe people actually wear Mickey shirts and now you have to have one? You can get it there. Got bitten by the pin trading bug? You can get them there.

Pass through to the inner part of the TTC and you’ll find some of the my favorite decorations outside the main parks. The TTC decorates for the season and it is a great place to start getting excited if you are visiting for a seasonal event. You’ll find pumpkins and hay for fall, poinsettias and ornaments for Christmas, and plenty of flowers for spring and summer. Before you start exploring, though, take a break in the restrooms. These are almost always nearly empty and very clean, so they’re great for that last stop before or after the parks.

Now that you’ve gotten through all that, you can get to the next T, the transportation. Ramps lead up to the monorails, a bit of transportation that is often thought of as a ride all on it’s own. Somehow these still seem futuristic to me, even though they are far from unique to Disney and have been used for decades. If you are going to Epcot or to one of the monorail resorts, this is your option. You can also hop aboard if you are headed to the Magic Kingdom, but you have another option. If the Magic Kingdom is your destination, you can also choose the ferry. This is a special floating trip across the lagoon where the Castle rises up in front of you.

We’ve done both Ts at this point, but that’s not it! There’s another reason I love the TTC and that’s FIREWORKS! What? Fireworks?! Yes.

Anyone who has ever been on Main Street during Wishes (I know. RIP.) can tell you that it can get hairy fast. If you don’t have the need to actually be in the park for the experience, try grabbing a sundae at the Plaza, a caramel apple or some fudge at the Confectionery, some fries, or another fabulous treat, and head to the TTC. Forgot your treat? Don’t worry. There’s a Joffrey’s where you can grab a coffee and a doughnut. (Note to self…that’s good for the morning, too!)

Once you have your evening treat, get close to the ferry dock and glue your eyes on the Castle in the distance. Soon you’ll hear the music rising around you and get the watch the show! Disney pipes in the music so you can enjoy a new perspective and be ahead of the game when it comes to the rush to the parking lot at closing.

Score.

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Taryn was born and raised, and still lives in Richmond, Virginia. Neither she nor her husband ever had the opportunity to visit Walt Disney World when they were children, but when their daughter Avalon came along, they decided she was not going to follow in their footsteps. They brought Avalon for the first time when she was 3 and have been hooked ever since. Now along with Taryn’s mother and equally Disney-loving older brother, they go “home” at least once a year, and by the time she is staring longingly at Cinderella Castle from the ferry on their last night, Taryn is well on her way to planning the next trip. As a group consisting of two adults with Asperger’s, including one who is also vegan, a very accommodating husband, an only child, a senior, and a service dog, they are a pretty special family, but Taryn is excited to show that the World really is The Most Magical Place on Earth and that there is a place there for everyone. When she isn’t thinking about her next Disney adventure and trying to come up with a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party costume that will beat her Oozma Kappa nerd look, she is a professional blogger and novelist, but Taryn also likes to indulge her Disney passion on her Etsy shop It’s Better in Vinyl.

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